Share Your Tips to Get your Comics out Faster!

[krazycafetales262]

Let's be real. Comics take FOREVER to create. So what do you do to speed things along without having to sacrifice overall quality?

I create my pages in batches. So I'll do all the sketches for a chapter in one go, then the inking, then the coloring. This is a tip I picked up from a blog article I ran into a long time ago.

[Leyelle]

Hmm, my main one might be obvious, but it's to sketch all the panels for an upload BEFORE i complete any of the images. I then go back and turn each sketch into a finished drawing one by one. it's way faster

[Calculus_Homework]

It's a tough balance for sure! But also, comics have a long history of rushing to get pages out to tell a story. I think it's kind of the nature of it--you can't have every page be your best immaculate work. If so, it'll take you a reeeeaaaally long time to get anything done.

So, what I've learned is when to stop touching the dang page. lol I've learned to rely on what I've been studying about drawing in the past year and applying that knowledge as I go. Turns out, it helps a lot in terms of speed and quality. I think it boosts confidence which, in turn, keeps that cycle of diving right in and working on pages.

I think that every individual has a different capacity of focus, creativity, and style... and so the process of all that incorporated into a comic pipeline can vary drastically.

Roughs are the only thing I do in large batches. I try to get those done for a whole scene before move to line art (scenes can be anywhere from 1 - 30 pages.) With line art, I go page-by-page. As in, I get a whole page of line art done before doing the next one. Since I usually post 2 pages per update, I take two pages of finished line art, flat them, then color them. And then those 2 get scheduled out immediately.

(I do dialogue bubbles as I'm working on the second phase of roughs. So, there's a roughs 1 layer, then a roughs 2 layer of tighter roughs that more closely resemble the finished line art for that page. That is where I make sure the bubbles are in the places where I want them compositionally. Panels can be figured out right up till the very end of getting the line art finished on the page.)

Edit: If I'm feeling a little burnt out, I tend to switch back to making batches of roughs since it doesn't require much clarity or intense focus. It's just me re-reading the script and adjusting what should go on the pages for it shot-wise and panel-wise. It's a looser process that helps me feel ready to get back in to doing line art that needs to get done.
I usually work 4-6 hours per day on stuff, taking a break every 2 hours so I don't get depressed. lol

[2DLenzy]

I'm experiencing a mini burnout right now but I'm trying to get back in the saddle. So tips here are appreciated!

-Like the above, work in batches do thumbnails/sketches of entire arc/chapter/episode - should go fastest.
-split up into manageable sections (I go by panels and end sections at natural points, usually 6-12 panels maybe 15 if I have extra time)
-Then, build up composition/scenes/proportions/features/etc - where work is put in - longer phase, and most tedious for me but it's a bit of muscle memory at this point
-Take a break - usually one or two days through week, inbetween batches. Don't overdo it though, or you'll get into the habit of not drawing(my problem rn, lol)
-Linework - takes only a couple of hours, using only one brush
(edit? - most likely not, unless it's really horrible, I keep in my first drafts XD)
-coloring/rendering - sometimes I do these the same day and rush it, but it works

Also, just a random tip to cut down on size of work:
PRO TIP: Not every dialogue balloon needs a panel
You can have them hanging over blank space or a stylish bg. I need to do this one more, or else I'll have too many panels to draw!

[Calculus_Homework]

100% on the dialogue balloon tip. xD
Have them popping out and overlapping panels for sure! It's engaging.

[BoomerZ]

1: Do the dialogue after layouts, before rough/inks. This will keep you from drawing a bunch of stuff that will never be seen and is a waste of time.
2: Unless establishing a location, backgrounds are a waste of time. Specially if there is a lot of dialogue and medium shots. Blur the background as that is how your eyes work in real life, they can't focus into infinity. Depth of field will save you a lot of time.

[LunarScyphozoa]

The thing I learned to do first was to make the lineart WAY neater than I normally do so I can color drop the big areas. Doing the hardest parts in batches or first helps too, doing the thumbnails for the entire chapter (or, in my case, entire comic) first and then taking it one page at a time definitely helps make it easier.

[kyupol]

• Use 3d modeling software
• use 2d cel shading style
• abuse curve and line tools
• paint bucket tool speeds up coloring